Hmmm.
I cannot access that article, GEB, but the title of it is telling. My impression from the show was that he could calculate it.
In any case, his calculation abilities did not seem to come from memorization, but rather that organic process to which I referred.
As to him becoming someone like Neo, I suppose he could, in a way, if he wanted to. What is most important, I think, is for people to use their intelligence pursuing what interests them. Richard Feynman refers to this in one of his autobiographical books.
I think it's important to let hackers hack and researchers research, even if what they are doing seems useless. Let them do it and document it. The knowledge will help SOMEWHERE through the process of cross-pollenation.
I am more amazed an enthused by his process of calculation than by his process of memorization and recall, although they may work by similar mechanisms.
Richard Feynman says that the way math is taught gets people into the habit of solving problems without thinking about them. I think he's right. I think there is much more to it. I do what I can now to foster a better way of thinking and approaching things in myself, but, alas, if only I had been taught differently at an early age.
Did many of you notice how the brainman practiced pacing and mirroring a la NLP with the great minds he met?
Interesting.
